Major General Barshi Magashi (rtd), the outgoing minister of defense, has disclosed the degree of success the armed forces have attained during his four years in office.
He claimed that the military had destroyed the Boko Haram/ISWAP insurgency, banditry, and other criminal activity with a success rate of over 80%.
Speaking at a farewell luncheon organized in his honor by Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Magashi claimed that all that was possible had been done to keep the country united despite the current security crisis.
“Whether anybody likes it or not, the armed forces have done the best that is possible to keep this country in the security situation we find ourselves in,” he said.
“There is nothing that we have not done to keep this country together. In this period, we achieved about 70 to 80 percent success, and we will continue to do the same”.
“I think the President has given us all the tools necessary to enable us to perform our duties credibly”.
“I have come to understand that everything we do requires teamwork, and when I joined the ministry, I found that there were a lot of things that we were required to do.
“We needed synergy among the members of the armed forces and the ministry. I am proud to see that this has continued. I hope it will continue forever.
“You must continue to be soldiers, and I am happy that we are doing what we ought to do for this country.
“We should give credit to the outgoing Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari, for realizing that there is a need for synergy among the armed forces and other security agencies.
According to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Abubakar Kana, he said;
“I must state here that working with Magashi brought peace to me personally and the ministry at large because the outgoing minister was a dependable man.
Speaking at the event, Gen. Lucky Irabor, the Chief of Defence Staff, praised the minister and said that he is a man full of wisdom and is specific about how he used these qualities to lead the Armed Forces.
Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, Chief of the Naval Staff, described the outgoing minister as a steadfast combatant officer, an excellent administrator, and a tenacious soldier in his remarks.
“I always remember that each time we stayed for meetings, the emphasis was always on due diligence and avoidance of certain precedents that would be harmful to the system.
“This he ensured through his tenure in office, which is not surprising, considering his background as a legal luminary and pursuit of adherence to global best practices as a way to further enhance effective security within the maritime domain for economic prosperity and national stability.
“Our distinguished special guest of honor ensured approval of establishments, additional basic and strategic locations to facilitate security within the inland waterways and adjoining oceans.
